Situated nearly a mile below the rim of the Grand Canyon, Phantom Ranch—a historic cluster of stone-and-wood cabins along Bright Angel Creek—has been the focus of rescue efforts following a flash flood that struck the area on Saturday. The ranch, the only lodging located within the canyon itself, is accessible exclusively by foot, mule, or raft along the Colorado River.

Authorities with the National Park Service reported that dozens of individuals were evacuated from Phantom Ranch, the nearby North Kaibab Trail, and surrounding campgrounds over the weekend. As of late Monday, two fatalities had been confirmed, and one person remained missing. More than 80 people were rescued, many of whom were airlifted by helicopter from affected trails and damaged campsites.

The flooding occurred in an area with a significant historical background. Phantom Ranch first began as Rust’s Camp, a modest tent camp established in 1907 by David Rust, which notably hosted President Theodore Roosevelt during a 1913 hunting trip. After the Grand Canyon was designated a national park in 1919, the camp was replaced by Phantom Ranch in 1922, designed by architect Mary Jane Colter. Colter's work, commissioned by the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad, transformed the site into a retreat that attracted prominent visitors, including movie stars, authors, and political figures such as Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who visited after a 90-mile rafting journey in 1967.

Phantom Ranch can accommodate around 90 guests, but reservations require entry into a lottery arranged more than a year in advance. Unlike the more accessible South Rim—where visitors can drive to Grand Canyon Village and utilize shuttle buses—access to Phantom Ranch demands a descent from either the North Rim via the North Kaibab Trail or from the South Rim via the South Kaibab or Bright Angel trails. The North Kaibab Trail itself descends nearly 6,000 feet over approximately 14 miles.

The area is known for its vulnerability to sudden flash flooding. The National Park Service notes that summer thunderstorms can trigger rapid flooding, presenting an ongoing hazard to hikers and campers. The most severe recent flood occurred in 1966, when heavy rain throughout the North Rim caused catastrophic flooding along Bright Angel Creek.

Compounding the risks, the Dragon Barvo wildfire last year burned nearly 150,000 acres near the North Rim, leading to the closure of the North Kaibab Trail. While the trail has been gradually reopening, the Park Service has highlighted an elevated risk of flash flooding and debris flows in the Bright Angel Creek watershed. In response, enhanced flood monitoring, new signage, and an evacuation plan have been implemented to improve visitor safety in this remote and historically vulnerable part of the Grand Canyon.

Following the recent flood, Phantom Ranch and several adjacent campgrounds and trails remain closed as authorities continue search and recovery operations and assess damage to the area’s infrastructure.